(7) Muslim’s Ultimate Goal In life
There are four points to discuss in this regard:
A- The first group’s goal is to satisfy their desires.
B- The second group’s ultimate goal is to make corruption among people.
C- The third group is those whose goal is to collect money.
D- The fourth group makes pleasing Allah the ultimate goal.
A goal by definition is the end of something. For the Muslim, his Ultimate goal is precious, expensive and unique. And it is the goal of prophets and messengers.
The Qur’an has divided people into four categories according to their goals:
A- The first group’s goal is to satisfy their desires, so their life is just eating, drinking and satisfying their sexual desire. And this aim is very low, dishonorable and so are its people.
Allah (SWT) said: “Those who disbelieve enjoy themselves and eat as grazing livestock eat.” (Muhammad, 8).
Allah (SWT) said: “And certainly We have created for hell many of the jinn and the men; they have hearts with which they do not understand, and they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear; they are as cattle, nay, they are in worse errors; these are the heedless ones.” (Al-A’raf, 170).
The people in this category, generally, have this motto in life: living is to eat, drink and sleep. It is not worth living if these three things can not be fulfilled.
The best illustration of this state of loss is in the poem of ‘Talasim’ by Elia Abu Madi. He says: “I came to this life not knowing where from, but I am here. When I see a road in front of me, I just walk it.”
B- The second group’s ultimate goal is to make corruption among people and they only pretend to be kind. They are Hypocrites. When they talk, they will talk nice but their hearts, souls, and minds are all sick.
Allah (SWT) said: “Of the people is he whose speech pleases you in worldly life, and he calls Allah to witness as to what is in his heart, yet he is the fiercest of opponents. And when he goes away, he strives throughout the land to cause corruption therein and destroy crops and animals. And Allah does not like corruption.” (Al-Baqara, 204-205).
Allah (SWT) said: “And when it is said to them, “Do not cause corruption on the earth,” they say, “We are but reformers.” Unquestionably, it is they who are the corrupters, but they perceive [it] not.” (Al-Baqara, 11-12).
Hypocrites are double faced people and are the worst people, as the messenger of Allah said: [the worst people are the double faced people the one who meets a group of people with one face. And meets another a group of people with different face.]. (Al-Bukhari, 7179).
The Prophet (PBUH) also said: “The signs of a hypocrite are three: Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie. Whenever he promises, he always breaks his promise. If you trust him, he proves to be dishonest.” (Al-Bukhari, 2749).
C- The third group is those whose goal is to collect money, gold, silver, and all sorts of pleasures in life, but these are only good if they are used as tools to please Allah not as ultimate goals themselves.
Allah (SWT) said: “Beautified for men is the love of things they covet; women, children, much of gold and silver (wealth), branded beautiful horses, cattle and well-tilled land. This is the pleasure of the present world’s life; but Allah has the excellent return (Paradise with flowing rivers, etc.) with Him.” (Al-‘Imran, 14).
The person whose ultimate concern is life itself, Allah will scatter his mind and soul and will put him in a state of poverty and insecurity. Allah will give this person in life only what he has decreed for him to receive.
In contrast to this, the Muslim has the potential to be as if he owns the world if he meets these conditions:
- a) If he pursues the lawful (Halal) things only.
- b) If he uses whatever he earns to please Allah.
If he pays Zakat (alms), when the love of money has a place in his hand and no place in his heart.
D- The fourth group makes pleasing Allah the ultimate goal. They do anything to please Allah.
Allah (SWT) said: “O you who believe! Bow down, and prostrate yourselves, and worship your Lord and do good that you may be successful.” (Al-Hajj, 77).
Allah (SWT) said: “And I have not created the jinn and the men except that they should worship Me.” (Adh-Dhariyat, 56(.
So any deed they do, whether it is a job, a prayer, raising their kids, or any small or huge deed, they have the intention this deed is for Allah.
As Allah (SWT) ordered His last messenger in his Qur’an: “Say, “Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds.” (Al-An’am, 162).
Finally, you will find people are between these categories, going between these groups.
But smart people, who want their happiness in this life and in the Hereafter, try their best to be in the fourth group, those who work to please Allah.
May Allah make us among them.
Written by: Dr. Ahmed A. S. Hammouda
Professor in Al-Azhar University
And Islamic American University
Translated by: Abdullah Zettili
